Harness-buckle



UNITED` STATES PATENT 'OFFICE WILLIAM D. HILLIS, OF CUYAHOGA FALLS,OHIO.

HARNESS-BUCKLE.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 4,943, dated January 26, 1847.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, WILLIAM D. I-IILLrs, of Cuyahoga Falls, in thecounty of Summit and State of Ohio, have invented a new and ImprovedMode of Fastening Tugs or Draw-Straps of Harness to Hame-Tugs; and I dohereby declare that the following is a full and exact description of theconstruction and operation of the same, reference being had to theannexed drawings, making a part of this specification, in which- Figurel is a perspective view of the model, embracing the hame tug, buckle,and a part of the tug or draw strap. Fig. 2, a perspective view of thebuckle detached from the hame tug and draw strap. Figs. 3, 4 and 5 aresectional views of the same in different positions. Figs. 2, 3, 4 and 5being drawn on a larger scale than Fig. l.

The nature of my invention consists in the construction of an apparatus'which will serve all the purposes of the common buckle, r

without the use of the tongue, and the consequent necessity ofperforating the draw strap with holes, and also the convenience oftaking up, or adjusting the draw tug to lany desired length.

To enable othersI skilled in the art, to make and use my invention, Iwill proceed to describe its const-ruct-ion and operation.

I construct a metallic oblong box, let a, Figs. l, 2 and 3, open atbothV ends, of equal width perpendicularly, but of unequal thickness,thefront and back sides of the box forming relatively to each other aninclined plane, the opening in the front end of this box is suiiicientlylarge to admit the metallic plate and roller hereafterto be described,together with the draw tug or strap.

The parallel sides of the box which are marked b, b, Fig. 3 extendfarther than the back plate, and receives the pin c Figs. 2 and 3,around which the hame tug passes as represented at cl, Fig. 1. A

I construct a metallic plate with a rough front surface as representedin Fig. 4, and on the back side of this plate I affix the roller e Fig.5, which runs in grooves near each outer edge of the plate, and is heldin its proper place by the cap f, Fig. 5.

A band g, Figs. 4 and 5 is attached to the front end of this platethrough which the tug or draw strap is passed. I Vplace this plate withthe roller, inside of the box a,

ythe roller resting upon the back side Vof the A box and ,thel roughside ofl the plate being 1n front as represented at 7L, Fig. 2. The drawtug i Fig. 1 is passed in at the. small end of lthe box a, leaving theplateresting upon the back side of the box, as shown at k. Fig. l.I Now,by pulling upon the tug, the plate and roller will be drawn into thetaperlng box a, and thus press the tug i i'irmly between the front sideof the box and the sliding plate, and an increase of draft upon the tugwill increase the pressure upon the tug within the box, thereby holdingit iirmly 1n its proper place. In klengthening or shortening the tug,the plate can be moved upon the tug by taking hold of the band g, Figs.4 and 5, thus the tug can be lengthened or shortened at pleasure orentirely drawn out of the metallic box.

The sheath m, Fig. l, into which the end of the tug passes after leavingthe metal box, is attached as'usual to the hame tug and should extend tothe end which is attached to theV metal box.

In theconstruction of this buckle orfastening, the pin c, Figs. 2 and 3may be dispensed with and the hame tug riveted to an extended portion ofthe back plate of the metallic box. The box may be made of plated metal,plate brass, or sheet iron, or 1t may be cast. The plate and roller maybe made of either cast or wrought metal, the whole should correspond insize and strength to the purpose for which it is intended. The style offinish should also correspond with Vthe other portions of the harness.

If it is desired to fasten the pad and girth y to the tug, attachmentsindicated by rthe dotted lines at n, Fig. 3, may be afixed to each sideof the box. The breech strap may pass into the box with the tug, orwhich is better, pass through an aperture 0 Fig. 3, in the back plate ofthe box. This aperture may, if desired, be made in the front plate ofthe box.

The advantages of this method of fastening over the common tonguebuckle, are various, and consist first, in beauty. It will be a greatornament to a harness. Second, in strength, about one half of thestrength of t-he common tug is lost by the holes for the buckle tongue.Third, in economy of leather. A tug with this fastening requires aboutone half the usual quantity of leather for the same strength. Fourth,durability, the tongue of the comon buckle tears, and the ring indentsand will soon materially injure the tug. But With this fastening, thelarge surface pressing the tug, cannot indent it. Fifth, in convenience.The tug may be lengthened or shortened in a moment of time, and with notrouble. Finally, its

advantages over other known methods of fastening the tug, consists inthe convenience with which it is Worked, in lengthening or shorteningthe tug; the little Wear to the tug from the large surface pressing it,and in its being undivided7 and in security, as when the tug isloosened, upon being drawn,

WILLIAM D. HILLIS.

Vitnesses G. C. I-IUBBARD, H. PAUL.

